I love what David is doing with the theater now. The movie variety is amazing for a small town. I love the speakers who come and talk about the films. The sound is great. The atmosphere is warm and friendly, very old Ojai vibe. The snacks are varied and delicious. read more

Did you know that this locally owned business in a historic building house free movies that are sometimes first one movies? I'm visiting my daughter in Ojai and we went to the Playhouse a few weeks ago to see Marty supreme and I love this place so I checked out there screenings and I saw that song sung blue was playing which I haven't seen yet and I wanted to see. I couldn't believe my luck when I saw that it was a free screening so I registered and got myself a ticket. It was for a Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM and I was expecting a full house, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was only maybe half full. I got my small popcorn for seven dollars and a glass of water and happily sat in my seat and watched this wonderful movie in this special theater. It's so nice to be able to come to a locally owned and operated theater that is not a chain theater. They have the best snack bar I've ever seen in my life, especially for people that like old school candies and fresh organic popcorn. They even had yeast flakes to put on my popcorn, which brought back so many great memories Thanks for providing a special community gathering spot Ojai Playhouse ! You help make Ojai the happy place that it is read more

Ojai Playhouse - Cinema Near Me - Ojai, California

It's a great place to see a movie - the chairs are comfortable and the sound is good. Bathrooms super clean. While the concession stand has great options - it could use some help with organization - lines are long and there is no flow - would be nice if they planned better for large crowds. Other than that still a good place for a show. read more

I LOVED watching Easy A at the Playhouse! I remember being in school when the roads and high school shut down for filming! What a nostalgic feeling. We had a great time! I don't know if I will be back as the owner was quite clearly age-discriminatory. Not towards myself, but it's definitely something I noticed and am not a supporter of. Especially in a town where the youth have been waiting for their local movie theater to reopen for over a decade just to get met with that judgmental and egotistical personality. If you support the locals, they will support you. read more

Ojai Playhouse - Emma Stone as Olive Penderghast in Easy A - Cinema Near Me - Ojai, California

I love Ojai Playhouse. I do not live close and have been eight times total throughout November and December 2025, and it is one of my favorite places to watch a movie. General 1. It feels like a family-owned, small business type environment, and you are always greeted with a smiling face. 2. Reserve as soon as things get announced, because word is getting out and things start to sell out pretty frequently (for example, Marty Supreme). 3. Follow their Instagram and sign up for their mailing list so you stay on top of upcoming showings. 4. They host free screenings and Q&As with directors and actors, which I love to take advantage of. 5. They sometimes show films earlier than you would expect, so keeping an eye on announcements is worth it if you like early screenings. 6. For those commuting from outside of Ventura County, it is an easy, scenic drive into Ojai through Highway 33 (Ojai Freeway). Super easy drive even in heavy rain. Parking 1. Most weeknights and Sunday nights, I have found street parking along Signal Street. 2. I've only been once on a Saturday and it was pretty crowded to park due to tourists, but you'll find something along or around Signal eventually; just more of a walk. 3. There is also a public parking lot about a block down behind the venue, free to anyone. 4. For the most part, you check in at the box office, which is behind the venue. Staff/Inside 1. Some nice seating around the snack lounge to wait in case you arrive early. 2. Staff have been consistently friendly and helpful every visit. 3. Food: The popcorn tastes great. I enjoyed the pizza as well. Theater 1. The theater is not huge, but it is big enough, and you have a great view from anywhere. I prefer to sit at the front because the screen is not that big, but I have also watched from the back and it looked and sounded great. 2. Movies always sound great; Dolby Atmos, heck yes. 3. The seats are pretty comfortable. They do not look comfortable, but they are comfortable. read more

Ojai Playhouse - Cinema Near Me - Ojai, California

We had such a lovely time at the Ojai Playhouse. We screened Fire Island (2022), an LGBTQ romcom, that had a special Q&A with Director Andrew Ahn, Writer & Actor Joel Kim Booster, and special guest & Actor Bowen Yang. This exclusive screening was only $15! And although it was sold out, the space didn't feel packed or crowded. The seats were comfortable and there was a decent incline, so there wasn't too much obstruction from the people sitting ahead of you. What was so interesting was the amount of straight, cis folks in the audience. One of the audience members asked if Fire Island was a fictional place - not knowing that it is a community in New York's Long Island with two district LGBTQ neighborhoods (the Pines and Cherry Grove). While the location is a character in the movie, it is a real place with scene from the movie that accurately portrays the location. All to say, I love the diversity of movies the Ojai Playhouse screens and the openness of their audiences. read more

I saw 2001 A Space Odyssey last weekend. It was an experience going back in time. The redo of the Playhouse is first class!

5 Stars isn't a high enough rating for this place. Best addition to our little village in such a long time. It is so special to be able to see a blockbuster new release in a small setting or a classic movie surrounded by superfans. Just the best experience you could ask for. And, getting to watch the Stranger Things finale, live, and with 100 other fans was just so fun. The staff is accommodating and friendly, and they will wait until the snack bar is clear until starting the movie -- that might mean you have to wait past the advertised start time, but it is so worth it. My advice - get there when the doors open, get a beverage and some popcorn, enjoy the community and see one of your favorite movies! read more

Ojai Playhouse - Cinema Near Me - Ojai, California

My husband and I had a great date night at one of the free showings. I love the inside of this theater: it is so charming and warm inside. The sound was on the louder side and there's not a lot of space in the waiting area by the concessions but it's a super charming small town theater. read more

Ojai Playhouse - Theater - Cinema Near Me - Ojai, California

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Nice, local movie art house that hosts amazing movies. One theater. Tons of yummy snacks, sodas and yes- they do have beer, wine & other adult bevvies, too. Great night out. read more

You can always measure the quality of a town by their commitment to preserving historical structures, especially theatres and playhouses. The Ojai Playhouse is no exception. The exterior is well preserved and maintains the original architecture. However, once inside it is a beautiful, modern theater. Great lighting, seating and sound system. I recently attended a movie screening, followed by a lecture. The whole experience was really enjoyable. Don't pass up an opportunity to attend an event here. Now, on with the show. read more

Ojai Playhouse - Jeremy Corbel event. - Cinema Near Me - Ojai, California

So happy to have movies back in Ojai! Lovely theatre with fun snacks and drinks! Consistently showing interesting movies and special events with directors, producers and actors in attendance. read more

Go see a flashback movie! We watch movies there at least once a month. Super clean and cute, a lot of concessions including vintage candy and various types of alcohol is available. Sometimes directors or actors will do a q&a! Get on the mailing list! Great spot read more

My wife and I had a wonderful experience at the Ojai Playhouse. Every detail feels thoughtfully curated and contributes to an authentic, welcoming atmosphere. We really enjoyed our visit and look forward to coming back. read more

Wow!!! Just wow!! I absolutely loved the nostalgia on the walls and the snack offers were a great throwback. There is a hometown welcoming feel right when you walk in. I was drawn in by the free movie offers, I mean what a special treat for the community. I sat with all my yummies and my three kids were so stoked. It hit all three of my kids age groups perfect. The teen and I hit the movies by ourselves and the owner made it a magical experience, he showed up and rocked it!!! read more

Fabulous hometown theater with the best concessions!! We love going to this theater and highly recommend it!

I love this place. Such a beautiful theater with a variety of treats and and an excellent array of movies.

10/10. Very happy to see this theater reopened. Saw a midnight screening of The Substance last night. The interiors of the theater are absolutely beautiful. The sound system and the projection are top notch. Every gory/fabulous moment of monstro elisasue were on display without flaw. But what really stood out to me was the core intent and passion of the owner who I met prior to the movie. I will happily support any endeavor that seeks to serve the community and the art of film. Hope that you will too. I'd rather spend $20 on a movie ticket and snacks here than at some corporate, soulless, big box AMC Regal Edward megaplex. My monthly pilgrimage to visit my suegra will now be supplemented by some good cinema in a warm and welcoming setting. read more

Ojai Playhouse - Getting ready to embark on an audio visual journey. - Cinema Near Me - Ojai, California

Such a gem in the heart of Ojai! The Ojai Playhouse was recently renovated and it shows--the space is beautiful while still keeping its historic charm. Watching a film here feels like a true small-town experience, with a warm, welcoming atmosphere you won't find in big chain theaters. I love that many of the screenings are free, which really speaks to how much of a labor of love this place is for the owner and the community. If you're in Ojai, this is definitely a worthwhile stop--whether you're a film lover or just want to soak up some local history and charm. read more

So happy to have the theater back! My only complaints are, the popcorn. There is no butter to be found. Organic popcorn. Sorry, kind of lame. Other than that...fun experience to walk to on a random night. read more

Nice shows great sound and Sets and great performances! Looking for discounts to see more shows

Wonderful theater, the acoustics and the lighting system are amazing. Great snacks. The only drawback at the moment though is that I think something is up with the digital projection system. The last three movies I've been to have a little bit of a 'motion smoothing' TV look about them, a little bit soap opera, high-frame-rate looking. I've seen each of those movies before and even checked one on blu-ray when I got home, and they aren't supposed to look like that. Maybe my brain doesn't deal with laser projection properly or something, but I've seen laser projection at other theaters without this effect. Last one I went to was in January so maybe it's been sorted out by now? read more

We are thrilled to have the Ojai Playhouse in Ojai. It is such a special place to enjoy a movie. It has a small town feel with the single theater, carefully curated movies and the owner there helping make sure everything is running smoothly. At the same time it feels like a very advanced theater for its size. The sound system and picture quality are incredible. The lighting throughout the theater is also really nice. Please don't go there expecting big lazy boys seats. They are still comfortable though. I'm so glad to see so many people out supporting this local treasure and spreading the positive buzz. read more

Opening nite at Ojai Playhouse to watch Heat was such a fun and amazing experience. The place is absolutely beautiful now and has not lost the intimate charm that those of us remember as kids (50 years ago!). Opening night was not without a few delays and a couple of easy adjustments but there wasn't one person in the crowd that I could see that was not happy and smiling and eager with anticipation. As a group, there were lots of cheers along the way as well as many folks exchanging and comparing stories of past fond memories. Really was such a refreshing evening where 200+ people came together to celebrate a place that has been through so much and means so much to so many. Two additional stand out observations: 1) Staff: what a great team! Soft-opening' is a major task and all staff managed it with maximum effort, grace, warmth and friendliness. 200 people ordering concessions and finding seats is a daunting task and they all did a fantastic job. 2. If, like me, you are extremely fond of great popcorn, then you must try the Playhouse's corn.... Fresh, Organic, lightly salted with real butter.... Wow is all I can say.... The best I've ever had and I'm not ashamed to admit I may have eaten more than 1 bag! I do not know the owners personally but from what I can see, this has been a labor of love and they have gone way above and beyond and done a fantastic job that all can and should be proud of and excited to support. Big personal thanks to ownership and their wonderful staff. Amazing job!! read more